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Telethon Raises $210,000 For New Radio System At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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By NPT Staff - August 18th, 2018
Charlies Bunion, Great Smoky Mountains National Park/NPS

Friends of the Smokies has raised more than $200,000 during its annual telethon to help pay for emergency radio systems at Great Smoky Mountains National Park/NPS

Friends of the Smokies collected $210,525 in donations during its 24th annual Friends Across the Mountains Telethon from hundreds of callers, online donations, and support from sponsors Dollywood, Mast General Store, Pilot Flying J, and SmartBank. The donations will support the organization’s 25th Anniversary Signature Project to upgrade Great Smoky Mountains National Park's emergency radio systems. 

Since 1995, Friends of the Smokies’ telethons have raised more than $3.9 million in support of America’s most-visited national park. The telethon was broadcast live Wednesday night on WBIR in Knoxville, TN, WLOS in Asheville, NC, and on Facebook.

“This community has always come together to meet the needs of the national park in their own backyard and this night was no exception,” said Great Smoky Superintendent Cassius Cash. “Our friends and neighbors on both sides of the mountains pledged their support – even my daughter’s high school teacher called in to make a donation. We are so thankful to have Friends of the Smokies in our corner.”

The effort to raise $2.5 million for the radio systems will leverage $1.25 million in federal funds and grants to match every donation made to Friends of the Smokies. The state-of-the-art radio upgrades will allow rangers to respond more quickly and effectively to emergency situations in the park, help keep more than 11 million annual visitors safe, and communicate with emergency services in surrounding communities. In addition to this capital campaign project, Friends of the Smokies will provide more than $1.2 million in annual support to the national park.

During Wednesday’s program, SmartBank presented a check for $15,000 and Sugarland Cellars presented a $16,000 check to support the fundraising efforts. Justice Gary Wade, Friends of the Smokies’ founding board chair and dean of Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Law, pledged $5,000 on behalf of the school during the broadcast.

Friends of the Smokies’ President Jim Hart thanked the generous donors who called and donated online.

"To have a record-breaking fundraiser during our 25th anniversary is truly a testament to the generosity of this community," said Hart. "We are so grateful for the tremendous support as we close in on our $2.5 million goal.”

Matching telethon donations can still be made online at FriendsOfTheSmokies.org/donate or by calling the TN office of Friends of the Smokies at 800-845-5665 or the NC office at 828-452- 0720.

 

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